Chapter Text
Laura looked her outfit over again in the mirror, debating if she was too overdressed. She was wearing a simple black blazer with a white dress shirt acompanied by a slim black tie and her favorite black skinny jeans. It was Laura and Danny’s one year anniversary and to say she was nervous was an understatement. She fiddled with the velvet box in her pocket before deciding that her outfit was a good choice. Walking out of her room and into the living room of her apartment she is met with her brother looking at his phone with furrowed eyebrows.
“Hey Kirsch, what’s wrong?” she plops down on the table in front of the couch where he was sitting. Kirsch clicks his phone off and smiles at Laura “Nothing Little Nerd, just some Zeta business. You now how the Bros can be.” Kirsch looks at her and Laura can obviously tell that he’s hiding something but doesn't say anything. She know that he’ll bring it up sooner or later, he’s never been good at keeping things to himself. “Alright,” she sighs getting up and walking towards the door. “I’m going to go pick up Danny, don't wait up for me.”
“Laura wait up!” she spins around and comes face to face with Kirsch. He pulls her into a bone crushing hug. Laura smiles into his chest and he soon lets go. Laura is slightly confused when she see’s the guilty look on his face but he quickly covers it up with the signature Hollis crooked smile. “You looks good Bro.”
Laura Hollis is pretty sure she has the best brother ever.
* * *
“Hey babe is everything okay?” Laura asks eyeing the phone in Danny’s hand. She has been on the phone for the entire first half of the date, only looking up to scowl at a ragtag team of delinquent looking college kids at the table next to them. The group consisted of a broody girl throwing pieces of bread sticks at the hostess, A pair of gingers who were arguing about whether or not the short haired one could make a fire from the soup and salad in front of her, and a rather odd looking boy in a top hat eating a cupcake. Laura was pretty sure this place didn't have cupcakes.
Looking back at Danny she sighed, wondering why she felt so old. The group next to her were probably about the same age as her yet she feels so different from them. Danny finally sets her phone down on the table which pulls Laura from her thoughts.
‘Right,’ Laura says to herself. ‘ Big speech now, Identity crises later.’
“Sorry about that,” Danny gestures to her phone. “It could’ve waited.”
Laura waves a hand in front of her. “No,No, Its fine im sure it was important.” Danny smiles at her and Laura remembers why they are at this fancy restaurant.
“So…” Laura says taking Danny’s hand.
“So…” Danny copies, giving Laura a reassuring smile and a squeeze.
“Danny we’ve been together for a year,” Laura begins “And I know we’re both only sophomores in college but I been thinking about this for a while now and I know this is right because...I love you.” Laura takes a deep breath before standing up.
“Laura what are doing?” Danny asks as she noticed the other people in the restaurant started staring at them, even the group of weirdos next to them.
Laura kneels in front of Danny with a ring in her hand and she swears she can hear the whole restaurant, including Danny, gasp.
“Danny Elizabeth Lawrence… will you marry me?”
Laura looks into Danny’s eyes expecting them to be filled with tears of joy or something but instead sees regret. “I cant do this anymore.” she says breaking eye contact with Laura to stare at her phone. Throughout the restaurant murmurs can be heard, the only people who are quiet are the group next to them (all of which are now eating cupcakes) because they are trying to listen the trainwreck proposal.
“What-what do you mean you can do this anymore?” Laura says not moving from her kneeled position.
Danny starts fiddling with her phone as she speaks “I didn't think this was going to be that serious when we started dating, but my parents loved you and they hated Wilson so-”
“Wait,” Laura holds a hand up to stop Danny’s rambling. “Wilson? You mean Kirsch? What does my brother have anything to do with this?”
Danny finally meets her eyes and Laura swears she’s seen that guilty look in her eyes.
“Laura, Wilson and I are in love.” Laura hears a plate shatter and it mimics that sounds that Laura’s heart is making in her head. “So,” Laura says trying to fight the shakiness in her voice and the tears threatening to spill out. “What you’re saying is that you were only using me so your parents wouldn't find out that you’ve been shagging my brother?”
“Laur-”
“What else have you been hiding from me?”
“Kirsch was supposed to have a talk with you about you leaving the apartment.”
“The apartment that I pay rent for.”
“Well you can stay there for a couple of days until you find a new place.”
Laura’s form slumps. “I thought you loved me.” she whispers as Danny stands up and grabs her things. Upon hearing this Danny almost wants to take everything she said back, but it's no use lying to everyone anymore. “I do love you Laura, and if I had met you before your brother things might have been different,” She says with genuine sincerity in her voice. “But we can’t change the past.” With that Laura see her figure disappear out the restaurant doors.
Laura gets up from her kneeling position to return to her chair. The restaurant is still dead silent as Laura looks out the window to see her black ‘69 dodge charger drive off. Laura looks down and quietly says “She took my car.” before flopping her head onto the table.